Our Sepia Saturday theme image this week features two small girls pictured in a typically idyllic Edwardian garden surrounded by climbing shrubs and wicker furniture. A cocktail of half-memories sent me searching through the boxes containing Fowler Beanland's vintage postcard collection and I found this postcard which was sent to him in August 1905. I suspect the card was an early example of the marketing technique which sees personalisation of mass consumption products - a technique that has led to the numerous keyrings, mugs, pens, and cuddly toys which you can now get personalised with the name of your favourite granddaughter or great-nephew. I can half visualise a stand full of similar cute girls wielding a pair of apples arranged alphabetically from Alice to Zaniska.
As far as this particular card is concerned, Amy was the logical choice. It was sent to Fowler by his brother and Sister-In-Law, Albert and Kate Beanland - my grandparents. And it would appear that it was sent to mark the first birthday of my Auntie Amy. Auntie Amy was born in August 1904 and lived a good long life until she died, in Scarborough, in 2003. She is still fondly remembered in my family because with the small legacy she left me I went out and bought a dog which I named after her and who is sat at my feet as I write this. The Eliza (or possibly Elizer) referred to in the message would be Albert and Fowlers' sister, Eliza Beanland.
"Dear Brother, Thanking you kindly for Amy present and please to say that she got a lot bought and you should hear her call Eliza, you would laugh. With love from, A&K B"
You can read more Sepia Saturday submissions by following the links on the Sepia Saturday Blog. I will do that later today - for now, Amy is demanding a walk.
Charming!
ReplyDeleteA classic sentimental image that would still work today. She reminds me of the cherubic faces often used in the vintage labels on fruit boxes. Though this little girl may have had one too many apples.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a cute dog? A beagle, perhaps? I'm a cat & bird person (not necessarily together), but if I had a dog, I'd like it to be a beagle because they're not only adorable, but not so big & fairly even tempered. All that said, I'm still wondering what sort of dog you named after your Auntie Amy? And my goodness, but she certainly did live a long life!
ReplyDeleteA sweet little gilr being tempted by an apple. I called my cat Henry after Laurence Olivier in Henry V !
ReplyDeleteAmy's dress is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteFrom your description, the little girl in the photo is just a model, as Amy was only a year old at the time, of did I read that wrong?
ReplyDeleteEven more like today's "name" products were the postcards with various names spelled out in various types of large letters.
ReplyDeleteThis little girl could have come from any number of countries, judging by the languages on the back of the card!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Makes me think "How sweet"!
ReplyDeleteI think I should start sending postcards to babies. As years go by, they seem so thoughtful and sweet.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a rather rare postcard. A fine post and peek into the past. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute card!
ReplyDeleteA photo of the dog would have fitted in nicely here too.
Well I’m sure Amy was the ‘apple’ of her daddy’s eye!
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful card and I can imagine it with some lovely hand-tinting.
ReplyDeleteTo have named your dog after your aunt is wonderful. A part of your aunt will be there each day.